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2 How to Write a CV
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
We see a lot of CVs at CaPS. Every year we read and review literally thousands of them, for job, intern-ship, grad school and funding applications. They are from students of all levels representing each of the faculties and schools at McGill. While there is definitely room for individual variation, some things clearly work better than others. Use the information, tips and samples in this guide to start writing and organizing your CV, then come to a CaPS CV drop-in or make an appointment for an individual consultation to ensure that your applications are as professional and customized as they can be!
GETTING STARTED
What’s the point of a CV?
A CV provides a potential employer with a quick summary/overview of your experience, background and skills to help them decide if you are a good candidate to invite for an interview. CVs are also often required as part of graduate/professional school applications.
General guidelines
1. Writing a CV is an art, not a science. The goal is not to force your content into a particular template, but rather to find a format and style that highlights your experience and strengths. The order and emphasis of your sections should also reflect the level of priority of your reader.
2. Put yourself in the shoes of your reader. Can they easily find the information they are looking for? Is it clear why you would be a good fit for the job?
3. Use concrete examples when describing your experience. What did you do/accomplish?
4. Your CV needs to be consistent and clear in terms of its style and format, professional in its content and overall presentation, and as much as possible, specifically targeted to the position/company/field you are applying to.
5. Do your research! For your applications to be effective, you need to demonstrate knowledge of the em-ployer and what they are looking for. Be intentional and informed, not generic!
6. Length: In Canada, outside of academia, your CV can be up to two pages. There are a few exceptions, in-cluding the management/business sector, which tends to prefer one page. Ask at CaPS if you are unsure about norms for your particular field/geographic area.
The “Master CV” - Your first draft
To make customizing your CV for each application easier, we recommend compiling a “master CV” that includes everything. This document will likely be several pages long, but since it’s just for you, that’s OK. The idea is to have a comprehensive record of your activities, experiences and accomplishments that you can draw on for future applications. Use the Common CV Components list on the next page to get started.
HOW TO WRITE A CV
How to Write a CV 3
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
COMMON CV COMPONENTSThese are the basic components of a CV for a current undergraduate student or recent graduate. While your Contact Information always comes first, the other sections can and should be presented in whichever order is most relevant to the position for which you are applying.
Experience
There are many ways to organize this informa-tion. Early on, general section headings such as “Volunteer Experience” work well. However, once you have more experience and want to highlight patterns you have identified, try to strategically use headers for your experience section(s) in order to incorporate key skills from the job description.
General options include:
Work ExperienceVolunteer Experience Extracurricular ExperienceCareer-Related Experience Additional Experience
Sample targeted headings:
Tutoring ExperienceSales and Customer Service ExperienceOutreach and Marketing ExperienceWriting and Editing ExperienceResearch ExperienceLeadership ExperiencePerformance ExperienceAdministrative Experience
Certifications/Affiliations/Memberships/ Additional Training
• List any additional certifications or active memberships you hold, along with the dates
Interests & Activities
• Make sure this section is organized and rela-tively detailed/specific
Contact Information
• Include your full name, phone number and a professional email in an attractive header
• While a mailing address is conventionally in-cluded, use your best judgement depending on your situation
• Include your website and/or edited LinkedIn URL if relevant
• In North America, personal information such as age, height and citizenship is not included
Languages
• If you speak more than one language, list these in order of relevance to the workplace
• Indicate your level of proficiency (i.e. basic, intermediate, fluent)
Computer/Technical/Laboratory Skills
• List the specific programs/software or lab techniques you are familiar with
Education
• List all degrees you hold or are working on, most recent first
• Include any specializations (major, minor), thesis or honours work
• You can include scholarships and awards as details here, or in a separate “Awards” section
Awards and Scholarships
• List titles, reason for the award (if not clear from the title), dates and monetary values (if significant)
4 How to Write a CV
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
LANGUAGE, STYLE & FORMATFormat
Use a simple, clear format such as the example below:
What (your degree or job title) date-dateWhere (school or company and location) • Details (if relevant)
Describing your experience
• Aim for a factual, confident and profes-sional tone; avoid embellishment
• Use active, skills-based language* and specific examples to highlight your accomplishments
• Start each bullet with an action verb instead of using pronouns (i.e. I, we)
• Pay attention to verb tenses: if you are no longer working somewhere, the verbs should be in past tense, for a cur-rent activity, use the present tense
• Add a descriptor for clarity if your title was “Volunteer” or “Intern”, (i.e. Volunteer Peer Tutor, Administrative Intern)
* see the list of Action Verbs at the end of this guide
General guidelines
• Use formatting techniques such as in-denting, uppercase, and bold consistent-ly throughout to increase readability
• Use bullet points for your details; long dense paragraphs are hard to read quick-ly and CVs are usually skimmed in a few seconds, not read word-for-word
• List education and experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first)
• Simple, straightforward layouts tend to work best; avoid tables, boxes, templates
• Choose a standard, professional font and ensure the size is legible when printed
• Ensure your email address, voicemail message and any URLs are professional in tone
• PROOFREAD your CV carefully for typos, spelling mistakes and poor grammar
TARGETING YOUR CVKeep the following tips in mind to ensure your CV is specifically tailored for each application:
• Read the job description carefully and research the organization to identify the key skills needed
• Use targeted headings (see examples on page 3) which speak to the main requirements of the position
• Include additional descriptive bullet points for relevant past experiences
• Consider the order of your sections to make sure the most important experiences appear early on
How to Write a CV 5
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
EducationBachelor of Arts: Sociology Major 2017 - PresentMcGill University, Montréal, QC
• James McGill Entrance Scholarship ($10,000) 2017
Work ExperiencePeer Educator 2017 - PresentMcGill Career Planning Service (CaPS), Montréal, QC
• Meet with students to review and offer feedback on their CVs• Organize classroom presentations to promote CaPS activities and services• To date, peer outreach activites have resulted in a 10% increase in drop-in appointments
VP Communications 2014 - 2017High School Student Society, Montréal, QC
• Managed all communications including monthly newsletter, social media and website
Volunteer and Extra-CurricularCrew Member 2014 - 2016McDonalds Restaurant, Cranbrook, BC
• Worked in a team of 8 to deliver exceptional customer service
Camp Counsellor Summer 2016ABC Daycamp, Vancouver, BC
• Supervised and interacted with a group of 16 children aged 6 to 10 years • Developed weekly activities and agendas for campers• Created and led local outings to attractions such as Science World• Prepared and administered work schedule for all counsellors
Groundskeeper Summers 2012 - 2014Jagre Ridge Golf Course, Vernon, BC
• Groomed golf course each morning for clients• Collaborated with a team of 12
Certifications and Skills• CPR/First Aid Certified May 2015, exp 2018• Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Adobe Photoshop
Activities and InterestsMusic: Over 10 years of experience as an active amateur musician in orchestras and bands Achieved Grade 8 RCM standing in both trumpet and pianoSports: Avid runner, cyclist and skier; annual participant in the Terry Fox Run
Jane Student243 Maple Street, Vancouver, BC, V2G [email protected] 514-111-9999
SAMPLE: ONE PAGE CV
6 How to Write a CV
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
SAMPLE: TWO PAGE CV
Languages
English and French (Bilingual)
Education
Bachelor of Science, Honours Anatomy and Cell Biology 2014 - 2017McGill University, Montréal, QC • Minors in Anthropology and Social Studies of Medicine• Dean’s Honour List
Diplome d’Etudes Collegial (DEC), Health Sciences 2011 - 2013Cégep de Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC
Research Experience
Clinical Research Coordinator 2015 - PresentBone and Mineral Unit, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montréal, QC• Coordinate two research projects investigating treatments for osteoporosis• Liaise between patients, investigators, hospital staff, and sponsoring companies• Design and provide information and resources for patients diagnosed with osteoporosis• Successfully recruited hundreds of study participants using innovative advertising
Undergraduate Research Assistant 2014 - 2015Professor McGill Lab, McGill University, Montréal, QC• Welcomed and registered participants and explained study• Completed data entry, administrative tasks and lab maintenance
Community Involvement
Friendly VisitorMontréal General Hospital, Montréal, QC 2014 - PresentCentre Hospitalier St-Therese, Shawinigan, QC 2011 - 2013• Visit patients in the dialysis unit to provide conversation, and support
Volunteer Service Participant 2013 - 2014Katimavik Youth Leadership Program, Hearst, ON, Prince Rupert, BC & Moncton, NB • Lived with a group of 15 young people in three small Canadian communities for one year • Volunteered as an Activities Coordinator in a seniors’ residence, as a Tree Planter in a deforested area
and as a Mentor in a community centre for at-risk youth
Jean-François Student4509 Faure, Montréal, QC H3B 2Y9
[email protected]; 514-330-1123
Copyright © 2015 McGill Career Planning Service
How to Write a CV 7
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
Additional Work Experience
Server (part-time) 2014 - PresentBar le Barouf, Montréal, QC• Train new staff on service and cash• Awarded most efficient worker three months in a row• Nominated point person to deal with crisis situations
Sport Camp Counsellor Summers 2015, 2016McGill Sports Camp, Montréal, QC• Supervised a group of 10 children between the ages of 8-10• Created and ran multiple activities related to various sports• Encouraged and motivated children to participate and succeed in activities• Updated parents on daily activities and events
Extra-Curricular Activities
McGill International Student Buddy 2015 - PresentInternational Student Services, McGill University, Montréal, QC• Communicate with new McGill students from abroad prior to their arrival;
advise and assist them during their entire first year
Orientation Leader Aug 2016McGill University, Montréal, QC• Led a group of 20 new McGill students through orientation activities
Judo instructor 2010 - 2014Centre de Judo Shawinigan, Shawinigan, QC • Coached children between the ages of 5-15• Judged judo competitions for the 5-8 year old category• Created an information sheet for all participants about schedules and equipment they will need
Activities and Interests
Sports: • Varsity soccer, McGill University (2013-Present)• Judo – black belt (2004-Present). Won national championship in 2010 & 2011
Music:• Piano – classical & jazz (2003-Present)
Travel:• France, England, Spain, Portugal and Australia
8 How to Write a CV
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts and Science, Economics and Mathematics 2014 - 2017McGill University, Montréal, Canada • Minor in History• Exchange term at University of Edinburgh (Winter 2015)
International Baccalaureate Diploma 2014XYZ International School, Beirut, Lebanon
CAREER-RELATED EXPERIENCE
Research and Event Planning Intern Summer 2016United Nations, New York, USA• Researched the advantages of micro financing for female farmers in West Africa• Assisted with planning for annual agriculture conference• Translated English conference documents to French and Arabic
VP Finance 2015 - 2016McGill Arab Students’ Association, Montréal, Canada• Managed the annual budget for one of McGill’s largest student associations
Assistant Analyst Intern Summer 2015ABC Bank, Hong Kong, China• Translated English financial documents to French and Arabic• Documented trade transactions and entered data into Excel
Receptionist 2012 - 2014SFT Shipping, Beirut, Lebanon• Answered client inquiries on the phone and in person in a trilingual environment• Updated client accounts and entered import and export data
SKILLS AND INTERESTS
Languages: English, French and Arabic: Fluent, Hebrew: Intermediate, Mandarin: Basic Software: PowerPoint, Excel and WordInterests: Reading (Politics, Technology), Painting and GenealogySports: Basketball (Team Captain in high school, intramurals at McGill), Ultimate Frisbee and GolfWorld Travel: Australia, Germany, France, UK, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, USA and Canada
REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Fatima Student3600 McTavish, Montréal, QC, H3A 0G3, [email protected]; 514-398-3334
How to Write a CV8
SAMPLE: ONE PAGE CV
Copyright © 2015 McGill Career Planning Service
How to Write a CV 9
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
Accounted Critiqued Measured Scrutinized
Analyzed Deciphered Observed Studied
Ascertained Deliberated Prioritized Synthesized
Assessed Determined Programmed Tested
Compared Estimated Projected Validated
Computed Evaluated Questioned Verified
Conceptualized Examined Rated
Concluded Formulated Recommended
Confirmed Justified Researched
ANALYSISAddressed Counselled Interpreted Referred
Advocated Demonstrated Lectured Reported
Authored Discussed Listened Responded
Called Drafted Lobbied Spoke
Clarified Edited Marketed Summarized
Coached Educated Persuaded Taught
Communicated Elicited Presented Transcribed
Contacted Explained Promoted Translated
Convinced Familiarized Publicized Tutored
Corresponded Informed Queried Wrote
COMMUNICATION
Adapted Created Improvised Played
Authored Designed Innovated Revised
Brainstormed Developed Invented Shaped
Built Engineered Made Visualized
Composed Envisioned Manufactured
Constructed Illustrated Produced
CREATIVITYAccelerated Created Improvised Played
Accomplished Coordinated Initiated Revamped
Achieved Established Instituted Reviewed
Acted Founded Introduced Revitalized
Advanced Generated Launched Solicited
Applied Handled Proposed Spearheaded
Attended Implemented Rejuvenated Utilized
INITIATIVE
On the following two pages you will find a list of action verbs organized by skill area. Use these ideas to describe your past experiences and skills in your CV and Cover Letter. Make sure to check out all of the categories as many verbs apply to multiple skills!
ACTION VERBS
10 How to Write a CV
Copyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service
Administered Delegated Headed Officiated
Advised Directed Hired Oversaw
Allocated Empowered Influenced Piloted
Anticipated Enabled Instructed Recruited
Appointed Encouraged Interviewed Sanctioned
Approved Endorsed Led Selected
Assigned Enforced Maintained Sponsored
Authorized Financed Managed Supervised
Chaired Fostered Monitored Trained
Decided Guided Motivated Unified
LEADERSHIPAided Fulfilled Reduced Solved
Alleviated Generated Refined Streamlined
Ameliorated Identified Reformed Strengthened
Augmented Improved Remedied Supplemented
Customized Increased Remodeled Transformed
Expanded Polished Repaired Troubleshot
Extended Reconciled Restored Updated
Finalized Rectified Saved Upgraded
PROBLEM SOLVING
Accommodated Contributed Integrated Related
Assisted Cooperated Mediated Respected
Balanced Facilitated Negotiated Shared
Collaborated Harmonized Participated
Consulted Helped Partnered
TEAMWORKActivated Excelled Licensed Shipped
Added Executed Navigated Sought
Appraised Experimented Operated Staffed
Approximated Familiarized Performed Submitted
Audited Guaranteed Prepared Surveyed
Displayed Involved Realized Tailored
Dissected Issued Served
... AND MORE!
ACTION VERBS
?Programs & Services
Online Resources
Ask a Career AdvisorAsk your career questions online and one of our career advisors will get back to you, usually within 48 hours.
Career Leadership ProgramBecome a Career Leader and promote CaPS across our campuses while developing your own leadership skills.
CV & Advising Drop-InDrop-in hours are available to undergraduate and graduate students, whether you would like your CV reviewed or have a quick question.
McGill Mentor ProgramExplore jobs and industries of interest. Get connected to a McGill alumnus/ae working in your dream field.
myFutureLog on to caps.myfuture.mcgill.ca for an extensive listing of jobs and internships. Register for CaPS events, browse publications and view employer profiles.
P.A.C.E.Join other students in this 10 hour/4 week program which helps you explore personal goals, values, interests and career options.
CaPS Website - www.mcgill.ca/caps
Your main portal to the services offered by CaPS and a wealth of information related to career exploration and job search.
Explore by Major - www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/explore/major
CaPS has compiled targeted career information for your major to give you some ideas of where to go next.
MyWorldAbroad - myworldabroad.com/mcgill
The authoritative guide to international careers. 4,000+ searchable resources, articles and inspiring student stories.
General Job Listings - www.mcgill.ca/caps/students/job/jobsearch
This page contains links to many job listings sites to help you find career and job opportunities.
Vault Career Insider - careerinsider.vault.com/career-insider-login.aspx?parrefer=7165
Downloadable career guidebooks, insider company surveys, industry profiles, career tips, jobs and internships. Informa-tion on companies in consulting, finance, law, marketing, public relations, accounting and business-related industries can be found here.
Going Global - online.goinglobal.com
16 million worldwide job and internship listings, employer profiles, and country-specific career information.
Career Cruising - public.careercruising.com/en/
Comprehensive resource to look up Canadian occupational information, educational paths and university programs.
myFuture
McGill Career Planning Service (Downtown)William & Mary Brown Student Services Building3600 McTavish, Suite 2200Montreal, QC H3A [email protected]
McGill Career Planning Service (Macdonald)Centennial Centre21,111 Lakeshore RoadSte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC H9X 3V9 [email protected]
Concept and Content: Jan BottomerCopyright © 2017 McGill Career Planning Service Design: Nivit Kochhar